"I don't like being ejected," Renteria said Thursday, one day after being tossed for the third time this season. "[The umpires] do a great job. It's a very difficult job they do. It's not my intent to show up an umpire or try to make them feel uncomfortable.

"Last night happened, it's over, and today's a new day," he said.

Renteria was the first manager ejected this season when he was ousted April 8. All of his arguments have been about balls and strikes, which can not be challenged with the new expanded replay system.

"I think you have to stand up for your guys," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday. "When your players are frustrated, there are times when you have to vocalize that. Obviously, there are fewer ejections now with instant replay, so those things kind of stand out more. I understood his frustration."

The 52-year-old skipper is on pace to set a club single-season record. The mark is seven, shared by managers Johnny Evers (1913) and Frankie Frisch (1950). Rookie manager Mike Quade was the most recent to challenge that when he was tossed six times in 2011. Jim Lefebvre also was ejected six times in the 1993 season.

Renteria said he doesn't hear from family after an argument. He complimented home-plate umpire Tom Woodring, who ejected him on Wednesday.